riparian wetland vegetation

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Riparian Wetlands of Western New York and Northeastern U.S.

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Page 1: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Vegetation

Page 2: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Adaptations• Plants w/in riparian wetlands are extremely

adaptable• Able to survive periods of high flow or very little flow• 3 different types of adaptation:• Morphological• Physiological• Whole plant strategies

Page 3: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Morphological(Adaptation to structure)

• Most common adaptation in NE riparian plants = the development of aerenchymous systems• Diffusion of oxygen• Potentilla palustris, Juncus effusus, Glyceria grandis

• Adventitious Organs (Cottonwood, Giant Reed)• Stem Hypertrophy (American Elm)• Rapid Vertical Growth• Prop Roots

Page 4: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Physiological

• Diffusion of oxygen to roots• Oxygenation of root rhizosphere• Decrease water uptake• Altered nutrient absorption• Anaerobic respiration

Page 5: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Whole Plant Strategies

• Delayed germination of seeds• Cottonwood Seeds (Populous Deltoids)

• Buoyant seedlings• Growth dormancy• Development of coleoptiles• Wild Rice (Zizania palustris)

Page 6: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Trees & BushesHoneylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos):

Easy to identify based on the thorny spines on the trunk.

Black Ash (Fraximus nigra): The northernmost ash, this ash is predominantly seen where soil drainage is poor, close to streams.

Page 7: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Green Ash (Fraxxinus pennsylvanica): Really likes alluvial soils and is the most widespread ash.

Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis): An elder that extends across most of the eastern portion of the U.S. Creates really good jam with fruit. Many uses like home remedies, whistles, maple taps, wine, etc.

Page 8: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera): Commonly used for erosion control of stream banks. Looks like a large shrub with several stems and forms in clusters.

Black Willow (Salix nigra): Often seen with cottonwoods, these trees grow along stream banks and flood plains. Also has lots of uses as wood (furniture, barrels, toys, etc.)

Page 9: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Sandbar Willow (Salix exigua): Greatest range of all willows, very common near riverbanks, sandbars and silt flats.

Pussy Willow (Salix discolor): Notorious for their fuzzy catkins, these plants can be found across nearly all of New York State.

Page 10: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Bebb Willow (Salix bebbiana): Also called a diamond willow due to diamond patterns that appear on the plants trunks due to fungi.

American Elm (Ulmus americana): Very well known and abundant species that took a severe population loss in the 1930's due to a fungus spread by the elm bark beetles.

Page 11: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Speckled Alder (Alnus rugosa): A shrub like plant that grows up to 20 feet and is distinguishable by the sunken veins on the leaves.

Eastern Cottonwood (Populus deltoides): Name refers to cottony seeds. This is one of the fastest growing trees, though they are generally short lived.

Page 12: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor): Most common Oak seen in Riparian soils in the Northeast.

Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum): Very rapid growth and popular as a shade tree, but has a lot of litter.

Page 13: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Red Maple (Acer rubrum): Greatest North to South distribution of any Maple.

Sycamore (Palantus occidentalis): Has very large trunk straight trunks with bark that peels off in large thin flakes. Extend across much of the Eastern U.S.

Page 14: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Other trees that may be seen

White-Cedar (Thuja occidentalis): Tend to grow in neutral to alkaline soils and stretch down to about New York's border.

Page 15: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

River Birch (Betula nigra): Only birch that occurs at low altitudes.

Tamarack (Larix laricina): Deciduous tree sporadically grows in Western New York.

Page 16: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Other Plants

Fringed Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata): Seen in almost every state in the U.S.

Nodding Bur Marigold (Biodens cernua): Grows to about 3 feet and is can be seen where there is wet ground.

Page 17: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Golden Ragwort (Senecio aureus): Common in the eastern U.S. With yellow flowers.

Cowslip (Caltha palustris): Plant stands about 2 feet tall and resembles large Buttercups.

Page 18: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus septentrionalis): Hollow stems and bright yellow flowers distinguish this plant.

Seep-Spring Monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus): Seen from mountains to lowlands this plant is extremely adaptable.

Page 19: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Yellow Flag (Iris pseudacorus): Seen along the edges of streams, this plant usually grows in clumps and has very apparent flowers.

Common Cattail (Typha latifolia): This plant is very common across the U.S. And while it is primarily seen in marshes, it will take root along the edges of streams and riverbanks.

Page 20: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Turtlehead (Chelone glabra): Especially common near stream banks and low ground wet land. The distinctive shape of the flower gives the name.

Lizard's Tail (Saururus cernuus): Though this species is usually found in the south it has bee seen all the way up to Ontario, Canada.

Page 21: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis): Common along the borders of streams.

Water Parsnip (Sium suave): Closely resembles the Water Hemlock and can be seen along muddy shores.

Page 22: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Watercress (Nasturtium officinale): This plant is found throughout the U.S. And has a very pungent smell.

Tall Meadow Rue (Thalictrum polygamum): Tall plant which can grow up to 8 feet. During the blooming season this plant is constantly visited by bees and butterflies.

Page 23: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): Has large cluster of pink flowers when in bloom.

Swamp Loosestrife (Decodon verticillatus): Can grow up to 8 feet tall and is a shrub like plant that can grow in pretty sizable patches.

Page 24: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Spotted Joe-Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum): Grows mostly in Northeastern U.S. And has a stem with spots on it hence its name.

Blue Flag (Iris versicolor): Very colorful native Northeastern Iris with distinct violet-blue flowers.

Page 25: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

True Forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides): Seen along stream banks, this was initially introduced by Europeans.

Cinnamon Fern (Osmunda cinnamomea): Tall fern that is covered in cinnomon-brown wool in the spring.

Page 26: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Marsh Fern (Thelyperis palustris): The most common of the wetland ferns.

Green Dragon (Arisaema dracontium): Similar to the Jack-in-the-pulpit, this plant is very rare.

Page 27: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis): Grows to a maximum of 4 feet and has small greenish flowers.

Clearweed (Pilea pumila): Small annual that grows just over 1 foot tall and has a distinctive clear stem.

Page 28: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Swamp Saxifrage (Saxifraga penslyvanica): Grows in wet areas along alluvial banks.

Wild Rice (Zizania aquatica) An annual grass that is seen where there is slow moving water and periodic flooding.

Page 29: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Wool Grass (Scirpus cyperinus): Especially important to waterfowl, providing cover and food.

Giant Reed (Phragmites australis): Tall and thick stemmed grass that is initially reddish, but then turns silver. Often seen in large clusters.

Page 30: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Soft Rush (Juncus effusus): Has a soft grasslike stem and is found along most of the Northern U.S.

Creeping Love Grass (Eragrostis hypnoides): Found mostly along muddy shores and sandbars of streams and rivers.

Page 31: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Annual Blue Grass (Poa annua): Sometimes found in flooded areas.

American Manna Grass (Glyceria grandis): Grows across most of U.S. Especially near water or wet places.

Page 32: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Vegetation Habitat

• Vegetation is an integral part of a web of fish aquatic and semi-aquatic vertebrates, microbes and organic detritus.

• Often times dependent on one another, if one part fails all will fail.• E.g. Beaver (Castor Canadensis)

Page 33: Riparian Wetland Vegetation
Page 34: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Vegetation Diversity

Dependent on:• Location w/in system• Further downstream & wider = more vegetation

• Channel gradient• Lithology• Level of confinement

Page 35: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Effects of Vegetation

• Regulates runoff of alluvial systems• ET -> back into the system• Moderates soil condition• Leaf litter alters nutrients available• Temperature due to shading (effects nutrient

cycle)• Alters geomorphology of rivers• Undercut banks -> erosion

Page 36: Riparian Wetland Vegetation
Page 37: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Viability of Vegetation• Natural Influences• Fires• Drought• Mass Wasting• Wind Throw• Herbivory

• Human Influences• Logging• Urbanization• Farming• Damming

Page 38: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Vegetation recovery time

Page 39: Riparian Wetland Vegetation

Functions of Vegetation• Flood Mitigators• Erosion Prevention• Purify Water• phosphorous, nitrates,

sulphates, metals, carbon sinks

• Downside = when species die materials can reenter the system.